OAF hosts two special hunters

Anticipation was high. Slowly the trigger was pulled. A cloud of smoke followed a loud explosion. Then the screams of excitement and high fives began.

From the moment Patrick King and Robert Waters met, I knew that this outing would be more than just a hunt. Both fathers of young men battling cerebral palsy, they instantly connected. They shared stories of how their sons are dealing with the disorder that affects the body in several ways such as hearing, movement, vision and other functions of the nervous system.

The men discussed the challenges that each of their sons faced, but after meeting Jaymes King and Drustin Waters, I learned one thing real quick: don’t underestimate their will.

Drustin and Jaymes were the guest of the Outdoor Adventure Foundation, an organization from the Texas Panhandle that grants hunting and fishing trips to terminally ill children or combat disabled veterans. The OAF had arranged this trip at the J-Bar-J Ranch near Clarendon, where Drustin and Jaymes would be treated to a hunt of a lifetime.

Both bound to wheelchairs, the spirit of the two young men was simply amazing. Using a special tripod, each was able to fire a rifle. Jaymes, who is 22 and a Caprock High graduate, was nervous and excited about the hunt.

“Jaymes loves to target shoot,” said his father, Patrick. “He’s addicted and it beats the heck out of him playing video games.”

Jaymes, who uses sign language and the aid of an IPad to communicate, was the first to take to the field.

The morning of the hunt a group of auodad came in close enough to give Jaymes an opportunity. Visibly nervous, he lined up the rifle. The shot was taken, a miss, but the auodad stayed close.

After reloading, Jaymes was ready again, now shaking with adrenaline pumping. Pow, a hit, and the celebration began, Jaymes had harvested his first animal.

“I think it is awesome you guys get out here and do this,” said Patrick King, Jaymes’ father. “I don’t know any other opportunity he would get, so God bless you.”

Drustin Waters, who is a student at River Road, would be on the chase for a Corsican Ram.

After several attempts to stalk a large group of rams, it was clear that we would have our work cut out for us. Finally, one ram separated from the group to the rear.

Drustin was aided in lining the rifle up and then he pulled the trigger. A direct hit. The ram sprinted right back towards us before crashing to the ground.

“That’s mine, I’m putting him on the wall,” screamed Drustin.

High fives and tears flowed following the shot.

“You can’t explain this until you do what we do,” said Britt Cornwell, director of the Outdoor Adventure Foundation. “We say it’s a hunt of lifetime for these kids, but it is a hunt of a lifetime for us.”

The Outdoor Adventure Foundation banquet is Feb. 9 at the Khiva Shrine.

To learn more about the Outdoor Adventure Foundation contact Cornwell at 806-223-8882.